Awning arm adjustment



P 0, 1940. H. c. HEISER AWNING ARM ADJUSTMENT Filed on. e, 321

Hell/g6. fiez'ser 7 7% so that the time and difiiculty incident to the adjusting operation is accordingly multiplied.

The most efiicient and desirable location for- Patented Sept. 10,1940

P TENT orrlcs AWNING ARM ADJUSTMENT Henry C. Heiser, Berea, Ohio, assignor to: The

AstrupCompany, Cleveland, Qhio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 6, 1938; Serial Nor233i68'6 3 Claims.

The invention relates generally to folding awning arms and more particularly to adjustable spring tension means for holding the arms in unfolded position.

Certain prior awningarm constructions have been difficult to adjust, and it is usually necessary to readjust the amount of tension applied to the arms one or more times after they are installed,

are used a tension spring has been housed in an open-ended tube secured to one arm adjacent the jointfbetween the arms and the tension adjusted by reaching into the tube.

Such a construction is not always satisfactory because the adjusting means preferably includes screw threads to which moisture in the atmosphere has access through the housing tube; and where the arms themselves are tubular it is desirable to house the spring in one of the arms, in which case it is difficult as well as inconvenient to provide access to the tension means inside the tubular arm.

Accordingly, it is an object of'the present invention to provide improved tensioning means at the joint between a pair of folding awning arms,

which means is capable of rapid and easy ad justment before and after installation. I

Another object is to provide an improved awning arm adjustment in which the tensioning means, including adjusting parts which may be 3'5 rendered inoperative by corrosion, is permanently incased in a closed housing.

A further object is to provide an improved awning arm adjustment in which the tensioning means is enclosed in a housing and easily adjustable from the exterior of said housing.

connector rod to the other arm whereby said rod may be turned to adjust said nut Without disconnecting the rod from the other arm.

Referring to the drawing forming part hereof;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a folding awning arm mounted in extended position on a support and equipped with the improved spring tension means;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view-similar to Fig. 1, partly "in section, to show the tensioning means;

Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2, showing the arms in partially folded position; I

Fig. 4 is a-transverse sectional View as on line 4-4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional'view as on line 55, Fig. 3.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

The folding awning arm indicated in Fig. 1 includes an inner arm 6 pivoted for lateral swinging on a wall bracket 1 in a usual manner, and

- the wall bracket is suitably secured to a support 8, as by bolts 9. Preferably adjusting means indicated generally at l0 are provided on the wall bracket 1 for adjusting the arm vertically as desired.

A tubular arm II is hinged at its inner end to the outer end of inner arm 6 by means of a hinge pin indicated at [2, and the outer arm H is provided at its outer end with a fitting l3 adapted for mounting a front rod (not shown) to which the awning fabric is secured in a usual manner.

Preferably, the inner end of the outer arm II is provided with a hinge fitting I4 telescoped thereover and having an offset yoke I5, the ears l6 of which are journaled on-the hinge pin l2. The inner tubular arm 6 has a hinge fitting l1 detachably secured on its outer end, and the fitting I1 is provided with ears l6 journaled on the hinge pin l2 and overlapping the ears IS.

The hinge fitting I1 is preferably provided with a tubular portion l9, which telescopes over the inner end of the tubular arm 6 and has a 'shoul der against which the end of the arm 6 abuts. Preferably, the tubular portion I9 is split as shown at 2|, and cars 22 are provided at each side of the split through which a bolt or rivet 23 is inserted for clamping the tubular portion [9 around the tubular arm 6. Preferably, set screws 24 are screwed through the tubular portion [9 and into the arm 6 to prevent the arm from turning or slipping in said tubular portion.

The improved tensioning means for urging the arms 6 and H toward unfolded position preferably includes a helical spring 25 located within the tubular arm 6. A connector rod 26 extends through the spring 25, the end of said rod projecting out of the tubular portion I9 at the hinge end thereof and having an enlarged head 21 thereon preferably provided with circumferentially arranged sockets 21a. The other end of the rod is screwed into a nut 28, which abuts the other end of the spring for compressing the same.

Preferably a spring abutment plate 29 is in-- serted through a slot 30 in the hinge end of the tubular portion [9 for abutting the end of the spring opposite the nut 28. The plate 29 is provided with a slot 3| for fitting around the connector rod 26, so that the plate 29 may be in serted in position after the rod 23 and spring 25 are positioned in the tubular arm 6.

Preferably one end of thespring 25 is bent angularly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the arm, as indicated at 32, and adapted to fit in a notch 33 in the nut 28 (Fig. 4). The other end of the spring is providedwith a similar angularly bent portion.34. for fitting in a hole 35 provided in the abutment plate 29. Thus, when the parts are assembled with opposite ends of the spring engaged in thenut and the abutment plate 29, the nut is positively prevented. from turning.

Means providing a'linkage connection between the connector rod 25- and the arm II preferably includes a chain 36 connected] at one end to a swivel yoke 31 engaging behind the head 21 of connector rod 26. This swivel connection permits axial rotation of the rod 26 without turning the chain 36. The other end of chain 36 is preferably pivotally connected to an ear 38 projecting radially from a sleeve 39 which is journaled on the hinge pin it between ears I3 and provided with a projection 49' abutting the yoke I5. Thus, turning movement applied to sleeve 39 by a pull on the chain '36 is transmitted to the arm I I to cause it torotate on the hinge pin.

In operation, the amount of spring tension urging the arms to. unfolded position may be easily and quickly adjusted from outside of the tubular arms even though the spring 25, nut 28 and the major portion of connector .rod 26 are completely housed within the, arm 6. By inserting a pin or suitable tool in any of the sockets 21a of head 21, the rod 26maybe rotated axially to screw it into'orout of the nut 28 and vary the compression on the spring, the swivel yoke 37 permitting turning of the rod, 2$-relative to the chain 36.

It will be observed that'the only parts subject to becoming inoperative due to corrosion are the interengaging screw threads on the rod 25 and nut 28, and they are completely encased and protected from the weather at all times.

The improved spring tensioning means can be assembled or disassembled in the tubular arm 6 from the hinge end of said arm. In assembling, the rod 26; with the nut ZB screwed thereon and the spring 25' encircling the rod, may be inserted into. the arm G through its hinge end.

The spring abutment plate is then inserted in the slot 39 and the bent end 34 of the spring inserted in hole 35 of the plate.

If it is desired to disassemble the tensioning means, this may be done by inserting a tool through slot 3| of plate 29 and compressing spring 25 sufiiciently to disengage end 34 thereof from hole 35, after which plate 29 may be withdrawn and the spring and connector rod removed from arm 6.

Due to the ease of adjustment of the spring, the spring tension can be relieved for shipping to such an extent that it is unnecessary to provide for locking the arms against unfolding during shipment or transportation.

The amount of spring tension is easily adjusted after installation by an inexperienced person, so that the services of an experienced workman or special tools are not required.

While I have described the invention as. applied to a construction wherein both awning arms are tubular, the scope of the invention includes an awning arm construction having only one tubular arm, or a tubular portion on one arm for housing the tensioning means.

I claim:

1. In folding awning arm construction including inner and outer tubular arms hinged together, tensioning means urging the armsto unfolded position including a spring within one arm, an abutment on said one arm engaging one end of said spring, a nut abutting the other end of said spring, a connector rod screwed into said nut and projecting out of said one arm, said spring being detachably secured at one end to said abutment and at the other end to said nut for holding said nut against rotation, a linkage connected to the other arm, and means providing a swivel connection between the projecting end of said connector rod and the linkage.

2. In folding awning'arm construction includinginner and outer tubular arms hinged together, tensioning means urging the arms to unfolded position including a spring Within one arm, a spring abutment removably mounted at the hinge end of said one arm for abutting one end of said spring, a nut abutting the other end of said spring, oneend of said spring being detachably secured to said abutment and the other end detachably secured to said nut, a connector rod screwed into said nut and projecting out of the hinge end of said one arm a linkage connected to they other arm, and a swivel yoke connecting the linkage to the projecting end of the connector rod.

3. In folding awning arm constructionincluding inner and outer tubular arms hinged together, tensioning means urging the arms to unfolded position including a spring within one arm, a spring abutment removably mounted at the hinge end of said one arm for abutting one end of said spring and having a slot, a nut abutting the otherend of said spring, one end of said spring being detachably secured to said abutment and the other end secured to said nut, a connector rod screwed into said nut and projecting through the slot in the abutment out of the hinge end of said one arm, a linkage connected to the other arm, and a swivel yoke connecting the linkage to the projecting end of the connector rod.

HENRY C. HEISER. 

